Dudley Council has been highly praised by the Staffordshire and West Midlands area of the Federation of Small Businesses for its business engagement work.

The authority’s Dudley Business First service, a dedicated team offering business support and signposting services, won Best for Business Engagement at the FSB Best in Class at their Awards event last week.

In order to secure the accolade, the team had to show how it had excelled in a number of areas. Staff were praised for their high-level consultation work, first class engagement with businesses and for how they work with other local authorities to support business development. Judges where impressed with how the authority engages with businesses in a variety of settings to inform them of services and to provide bespoke business support.

They also highlighted the benefits of how the service refers to supporting partner organisations, including Black Country Growth Hub, West Midlands Growth Company, Midlands Engine, BIES, Black Country LEP and Department for International Trade, in order to help business to grow and flourish in the borough and beyond. Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said:

“Business is the beating heart of our borough – creating vital jobs, prosperity, investment and opportunities for the people of Dudley. That’s why we put it at the heart of what we do. 

“We have worked continuously to develop and refine the Dudley Business First service and I am honoured to see how the work of the team and the wider council is not going unnoticed by the business community.”

Karen Woolley, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“Dudley has demonstrated its commitment to fully engaging with the small business community via its entry to our Best in Class Awards.  Further, it has evidenced its unwavering support for the retail sector across the patch, a sector which is often excluded from traditional business support mechanisms. 

“We were delighted to be able to award Dudley Council with our Best in Class for Business Engagement and thank the council for its continued efforts to help small businesses to survive and thrive.”

For more information about Dudley Business First people can visit www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk or call 01384 812001.